Brian Bollen's Blog

MiFID II forcing buy-side to work harder

A new report from GreySpark Partners, a global capital markets consulting firm, emphasises the importance of investment firms making changes to comply with MiFID II as soon as possible.

 

Fear is the mind killer

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge 

I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that brings obliteration. I will face my fear.

 

Schmucki joins SIX board

The board of directors of Swiss financial infrastructure provider SIX has elected Daniel Schmucki as new chief financial officer (CFO) at SIX and as a member of the group executive board.

It's the clowns

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge 

It’s a little bit Funboy Three this morning.

ICAP, Accel invest in OpenGamma

OpenGamma, the open source financial software pioneer and leading provider of derivatives risk analytics, has raised $13.3 million from institutional investors.

Wolff to be CIBCM CEO

CIBC Mellon has named Steve Wolff as the company's new president and chief executive officer (CEO).

ZEDRA to buy Barclays UK trust

ZEDRA, the independent specialist of corporate, trust and fund services, has agreed terms to acquire Barclays UK trust business for an undisclosed sum.

Nordea first to go live on new SWIFT service

SWIFT reports from Brussels that Swedish financial services group Nordea Bank AB has become the first subscriber to its new Payments Data Quality service.

BCEE implements SmartStream’s Corona solution

SmartStream Technologies, the Transaction Lifecycle Management (TLM) specialist, says today that Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat, Luxembourg (BCEE) has implemented SmartStream’s Corona Universal Data solution.

Something to look forward to...

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge 

It’s a bleak depressed mood here in Mint Towers… I looked out the window, and the rays of light to the East looked like an alien spaceship on its way to lay waste to the Wharf. Please. Brilliant. Something to look forward to.

BNP Paribas named custodian for CME Clearing

 BNP Paribas Securities Services has been selected to provide custody services to CME Clearing, the clearing division of CME Inc, via its New York affiliate branch.

Standard Life Investments boosts EMD team

Global investment manager Standard Life Investments has added to its team of five emerging market debt specialists with the appointment of Imran Ahmad as investment director – emerging market debt (EMD).

INDOS AIFMD assets jump

INDOS Financial, the UK independent AIFMD (alternative investment fund manager directive) depositary, says it has recorded a growth in assets under depositary from September 2015 to end-September 2016 of $8bn to a total of $13bn, a rise of 160% over the period. Over the same period the number of client relationships has grown 70% to 45 clients.

HSBC mandated by Rathbones

HSBC Securities Services has been mandated by Rathbone Unit Trust Management (Rathbones) to provide custody and fund administration services for its new Luxembourg-domiciled SICAV (société d'investissement à capital variable) fund.

A flood of naked truth

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge 

There’s no better way to overpower a trickle of doubt than with a flood of naked truth...

 

Maples Fiduciary opens in London

 

Continuing its significant global growth and expansion over the last year, Maples Fiduciary, a division of MaplesFS and leading global provider of specialised fiduciary, entity formation and management, insurance and administration services, has opened an office in London.

Asset managers must address solvency issues

Size does matter, if what Tim Thornton, chief operating officer, Fund Services, at MUFG Investor Services says about the rising capital requirements for fund managers is correct.

 

I do like Mondays

Mint – Blain’s Morning Porridge 

Who loves Monday? What’s not to like. A clean sheet to a new day, a fresh start to the week, the month and the last financial quarter of 2016? Sadly, it’s yet another year likely to resound in financial infamy.